Identification card system



May 2, 1957 L. H. KELLEN IDENTIFICATION CARD SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Nov. 20, 1964 INVENTOR. dw/ence 6. /t//en Hr off/vnf L. H. KELLENIDENTIFICATION CARD SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1964 g. a ILAAT A AASI United States Patent 3,317,799 IDENTIFICATION CARD SYSTEMLawrence H. Kellen, Rte. 5, Le Mars, Iowa 51031 Filed Nov. 20, 1964,Ser. No. 412,738 1 Claim. (Cl. 317-134) My `invention relates to anidentification card system.

An object of my invention is to provide an identification card system inwhich the identification of the proper person will be relativelypositive.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement inassociation with the identification card system wherein the arrangementwill not print a bill or invoice unless the card fullls the preciserequirements of identification.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which canbe altered as desired to change the identifying requirements.

A further object of my invention is to provide an identiication cardsystem which will operate only under the proper conditions and whichwill be especially useful in service stations or the like.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the device,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of FIGURE 1 with fragmentary sections, and

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit used in thedevice.

My invention contemplates the provision of a device and card arrangementwherein a card which may be fraudulently used by a person other than theproper person will prevent operation of the device and will similarlyinform the operator that the card used was obtained fraudulently or waslost by the proper owner of the card and is being used by someone else,etc. The arrangement is especially useful for service station uses wherepurchases of gasoline and the like are being made.

In describing my invention the character 10 designates a at plastic cardor other material which will contain the name of the proper owner asWell as the raised numbers 11 to 'be printed on the invoice, and thecharacter 12 indicates a series of spacedopenings provided in the card,which openings will correspond numerically to four numbers for instancewhich will be the numbers used -by the original owner of the card, andthese numbers preferably can be the four last numbers of his or herSocial Security number so that the numbers will be readily remembered bythe owner of the card, and which numbers will not appear on the carditself.

The character 13 indicates a series of electric solenoids having theplungers 14 therein, these solenoids serving to draw the plungers to themaximum upper position shown in FIGURE 2 if the respective plungers arenot blocked or restricted by the unpunched portions of the card itself.The solenoids will :be numbered 1, 8, 2, 6, 0, 4, 3, 7, 9, and as shownby the corresponding characters, however the positioning of thesesolenoids can be changed when desired, and each solenoid is connected asshown by the wiring diagram FIGURE 3 to the respective switches 15 whichswitches have the number values from 1 to 0 placed thereon as shown,these switches being of the type which will close the circuits when theswitches are pressed downwardly and when pressed again will open thecircuit.

Each card will also include a pair of openings at 16 which are adaptedto receive the circular pegs 17, the

3,317,799 Patented May 2, 1967 pegs 17 -being secured in the cavityportion 18 in which the card Will be held when 'being tested, it beingnoted that the portion 18 is wider than the card itself so that thespace between the pegs 17 and the openings 12 can be varied at thecentral oihce when desired to change the larrangement so that the propercard will fit the proper unit.

The character 18a designates a covering plate hinged at 18h to thecasing 49, the character 18e` designating flanges attached to the plate18b.

FIRGURE 3 illustrates the same switches yand solenoids as well as theplungers for each part of the circuit, and the solenoids will also carrythe contact bars 19 suitably insulated from the plungers.

The characters 20a indicates contacts, the character 21a indicatingfurther contacts which are bridged by the contact bars 19.

The character 23 indicates a further solenoid which operates a plunger24 (see FIGURE 2) which plunger 24 includes a locking extension 25adapted to be received within a keyway or slot 26 provided in the shaft27. The character 23a indicates a switch.

The shaft 27 is securely attached to a casing 28 (see FIGURE 2), thecasing 28 including the roller or printing mechanism which is more orless conventional in such constructions, the character 29 indicating ahandle pivoted at 30, the handle 29 being formed integrally with the arm31 which is pivoted at 32 to a substantially U-shaped yoke 33 to whichyoke is journalled a roller 34. Journalled at 35 to the levers 36, whichare pivoted at 37 to a casing wall 38, is a suitably inked roller 39.

Attached to the member 33 at 40 is a spring 41 which is attached at 42to the casing wall 43, the characters 44 and 45 indicating furthercasing walls, the handle 29 operating within a slot 46.

The device operates in the following manner.

Assuming that an owner of a card 10 is using the card for purchasinggasoline at a service station for instance, the operator of the servicestation will place the card 10 in the cavity 18 and so that the openings16 receive the pegs 17. The plate 18a is then swung over to cover theplungers 14 and card 10, the Iflanges 18e holding the card securely, thehinges 18b being relatively stiff to keep the plate 18a in a athorizontal position. The switch 23a is then closed. Assuming that thecorrect numbers as given to the operator contain the numbers 1, 8, 7,and 5 (see FIGURE l), the operator Will then press the correspondingnumbers on the switches 15, which accordingly will `actuate the propersolenoids as shown by FIGURE 3 whereas the plungers 14 will Ibe pulledupwardly into the solenoids and will project upwardly through theopenings 12 in the card 10. This action will accordingly cause thecircuit to be applied 4to the solenoid 23 which will release the plunger24 and member 25, so that the casing 38 can be operated, the invoice 47being placed in position on the card. At this point the handle 29 can bepulled over in the direction of the arrow 48 and the vari-ous members31, 33, 36, etc. will operate the inking roller 39 so that the number11, etc. can be -applied to the invoice or bill 47.

However, in case an incorrect number is give-n and this number isapplied to a switch 15, this particular plunger will not pass throughthe card 10 and the circuit will not be completed, thereby indicatingthat the card is fraudulent, and the locking member 25 will remain inlocked position.

In case a number is repeated more than once in the machine, this willnot aect the operation of the same, except that fewer openings 12 willbe needed.

The entire device is suitably enclosed within the said casing 49, and ifdesired the shapes of the pegs 17 can be changed to larger pegs ordifferent shapes if it is desired to start from a new basis at any time,the spacing of the pegs 17 with respect to the openings 12 determiningt-he proper cards, and which spacings can be yaltered as explained.

It Will now be noted that I have provided the advantages mentioned inthe objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction rand arrangement oftheparts of my invention Without departing Yfrom the real spirit andpurpose of my invention, and it `for actuating said plungers t-o entersaid certain openings,

said plunger actuating means including solenoids, switches forcontrolling said solenoids, said device including a casing including aprinting mechanism pivoted to said casing,

.a circuit controlling said solenoids, said circuit being broken whenone of said plungers will not pass through a cio-rresponding opening, afurther solenoid for controlling said printing locking mechanism, afurther circuit connected to said further solenoid, said further circuitbeing open When one of said plungers is inactive, said device includ inga casing including `a recessed portion for receiving said card, pinsattached'within said recessed portion, said cards havin-g furtheropenings spaced from said openings, changing position of said lpinsaffecting the proper positioning of said openings with respect to saidplungers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,967,916 1/1961Williams ZOO-46 3,227,818 l/l966 Belaiei 20G-46 3,247,425 4/1966Erickson 317-134 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,295,438 5/1962 France.

MLTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner'. I. A. SILVERMAN, AssistantExaminer. l

